One of the best features of synthetic grass is that it doesn’t require a great amount of care and maintenance that a natural grass lawn should have. Synthetic grass is incredibly easy to clean. Simple upkeep should be done regularly to keep it looking fresh. In the long-term artificial grass is easier to care for than natural grass.
While synthetic turf is easier to maintain than a grass lawn, regular cleaning is an important part of its upkeep. Proper care and maintenance help ensure the longevity of your synthetic grass material while preventing a buildup of dirt.
It does not mean artificial grass is completely maintenance-free. To keep your synthetic turf looking its best and to get the most of your investment, you will have to perform regular cleaning and maintenance. Here are 10 synthetic grass cleaning tips to ensure your lawn remains green for years to come.
1. CLEANING LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS
One of the most important care tips for your synthetic grass is to remove any fallen leaves or debris, especially in the autumn. Leaves will start to rot after a while, which will make cleaning a hard task. They can also affect the grass fibres and may cause damage.
Fallen leaves especially when they are wet can cause accidents because it is slippery. Additionally, it may become a health hazard because they can develop mould or moss growth.
Use a leaf blower or garden vacuum
The best way to clean fallen leaves is to use a leaf blower or a garden vacuum. If you’re using a leaf blower, do this when the leaves are damp. Designate a corner and blow the leaves and debris towards it. Once the debris is on the corner, you can collect it for removal.
Rinse the turf with a garden hose
While a leaf blower is good for leaves and larger debris it can’t clear the grass of dust and spills. Use a garden hose to rinse the entire turf. Control the water pressure, too much pressure could damage the grass. Begin from one end of the yard, sweep the hose in a circular motion as you sweep. Hosing with water is best done once a week to get accumulated dirt or debris.
You may need to hose your turf frequently during the summer or if you live in a dry area. During the winter you shouldn’t need to use hose that much, the rain will clean the dirt and wash it away.
Brush the grass using a rake or broom
Brushing the synthetic grass will keep the grass blades pointed upward, giving your law a more natural look. Use a soft bristle brush to brush against the natural grain of the grass. To remove dust, leaves and other debris, use a flexible lawn rake and avoid using steel bristle because it could damage the grass.
2. REMOVING WEEDS AND MOSS
Moss and weed cleaning are also needed to maintain your fake turf. Use water-based moss and weed killer that has a maximum Ph balance of 8. You need to do this because although weeds are not growing on synthetic grass the seeds are hibernating on the top layers of the soil underneath. To prevent it from causing harm, remove moss and weeds from your turf.
3. CLEANING STAINS
For mild stains
Cleaning everyday stains such as cola, alcohol, coffee, tea, wine, or urine is simple. You will need to:
Clean the stain quickly as it happens, this is the best way to ensure it won’t leave a long-lasting stain. Use paper towels or dry absorbent rug to blot liquid spills. Rinse the area with a mixture of water and mild detergent. This will not harm the fibres. If you need a strong stain remover, use a 3% solution of ammonia mixed with water instead of detergent. Thoroughly rinse the area with cool water afterward.
For stubborn stains
Some substances like motor oil, pen ink, grease, cooking oil, crayon or suntan oil are harder to clean on your turf. If these stains can’t be clean by household detergent or ammonia mixture, try to use mineral spirits to clean the stain. Soak a clean cloth with mineral spirit than wipe the soiled blades of grass. Make sure the mineral spirit will not go past the grass as this could cause serious damage. Rinse the area after and blot up the excess liquid.
For sticky stuff
Chewing gum and tree sap can be stuck in the synthetic grass, but they are pretty easy to remove. Use dry ice or aerosol refrigerants to freeze the gum or sap, then scraped it off the grass. Scrape the grass in upwards motion with the knife rather than scraping across. Be careful not to cut the grass as you scrape.
4. AVOIDING STAINS AND BURNS
If your artificial grass has stubborn stains or cigarette burns, it can always be repaired, however, it’s always easier to avoid spills and burns before they become a problem. Vehicle spills like battery acid, lubricants, grease, and motor oil can discolor or damage synthetic grass.
Avoid contact with these substances by repairing your vehicles away from your fake turf.
Artificial grass can burn from cigarettes, smoldering charcoal, fireworks or sparks from fire pits. Avoid these by delegating smoking, grilling or lighting fireworks from your synthetic grass. If accidents happen, call us to inquire about repair options.
5. REMOVING PET WASTE
Cleaning up your pet waste is quite simple:
- Remove solid waste using a pooper scooper or baggie.
- Hose the area where your pet urinates more often
- Apply turf deodorizer to avoid lawn odors
Cleaning up pet waste from synthetic grass is easy as long as you deal with the mess as soon as possible, there will be no lasting damage to your turf.
6. REMOVING BACTERIA FROM ARTIFICIAL GRASS
Bacteria build-up is basically a non-issue with synthetic grass, but if you believe there are bacteria present, use a half-and-half mix of vinegar and water to remove the bacteria buildup. If the area is just small, like the spot where your pet urinates, use a spray bottle. If you want to treat the whole lawn, use a garden hose-end sprayer attachment which is generally used to spray fertilizer to treat the whole area.
7. REMOVING A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW
Use a broom or brush to sweep away the snow, push it into one corner of the turf where you can collect it with a plastic shovel. Brush the grass against the grain to maintain its upward position.
8. REMOVING INCHES OF SNOW
If several inches of snow are present, remove the top layer of snow carefully with a plastic shovel. Avoid using a metal shovel as it could damage the fake grass. Leave behind one inch of snow that you can sweep with a brush or broom. This will help avoid damaging the grass with your shovel. Using salt is not recommended because there could be a salt buildup over time that may block the material from allowing proper drainage.
9. REMOVING ICE
Do not attempt to remove the ice manually with either a shovel or with salt, as this process can damage the synthetic grass. Wait until the ice has melted naturally.
10. CLEAN, BRUSH, RINSE, REPEAT
Take care of your artificial turf regularly as much as possible every week, or monthly if weekly is not possible,
- Remove leaves and debris from the artificial grass especially after high winds or thunderstorms.
- Rinse the synthetic turf regularly. Use a hose with clean water to remove dust.
- Brush the fake grass against the grain especially in high-traffic areas. This will help the grass to avoid becoming matted and keep it looking fresh.